Tuesday 18 June
Palm (Ravenea musicalis)
CRITICALLYENDANGERED
Palm fact file
- Description
- Biology
- Range
- Habitat
- Status
- Threats
- Conservation
- Find out more
- Glossary
- References
- Print factsheet
Palm description
| Kingdom | Plantae |
| Phylum | Tracheophyta |
| Class | Liliopsida |
| Order | Arecales |
| Family | Palmae |
| Genus | Ravenea (1) |
Ravenea musicalis, an unusual dioecious palm, is one of only two species in Madagascar to grow in water (3). The trunk is relatively short and swollen, particularly at the base (2). The wood has a cream-coloured appearance and is soft and fibrous (2). Around 14 to 16 arching leaves stretch out from the crown and each support 59 to 63 stiff leaflets on either side of the leaf axis, giving the frond a feather-like appearance (2). The fruits are orange and the single seed within is covered by a hard, black seed coat (2). The species name musicalis was given to this palm by a Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew botanist after he heard the musical sounds of the palm fruits dropping into the river below (4).
- Size
- Trunk height: 2.5 - 8 m (2)
Palm biology
Ravenea musicalis is one of the few palms in the world known to germinate under water, and is adapted to this unusual habitat (4). The middle layer of the fruit coat is spongy, an adaptation that allows these fruits to float. The seed will germinate within the fruit so that when the fruit splits open (after the slightest bump), it can sink to the river bottom and quickly become established (2). Unusually, the scale-like leaves produced by the seedling are hook-like and it is thought that these assist the seedling in anchoring itself to the river bottom (3).
TopPalm range
Ravenea musicalis is found only in a single river in the far south of Madagascar; as few as 450 individuals are known in the wild (1).
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Species with a similar range
Palm habitat
Ravenea musicalis inhabits flowing water, which may vary in depth from 0.5 to 2.5 metres (1) (2).
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Species found in a similar habitat
Palm status
Ravenea musicalis is classified as Critically Endangered (CR) on the IUCN Red List (1).
Palm threats
This palm is only known from a single river and is therefore extremely vulnerable to chance events, such as storms, and to habitat disturbance (2). Local people use the timber from Ravenea musicalis to fashion small canoe-like boats known as 'pirogues' (5). The area near where Ravenea musicalis occurs has been earmarked for large-scale titanium oxide mining; if mining goes ahead, the impact on the ecology of all surrounding areas could be very severe and could affect the survival of this species (4).
TopPalm conservation
Should this unique species be tragically lost from the wild, there are hopes that it will persist in cultivation; Ravenea musicalis seeds have been collected and distributed to botanic gardens in Madagascar and around the world (4). However, Ravenea musicalis has proved to be very difficult to maintain in cultivation (3).
TopFind out more
To find out more about what is being done to conserve plants around the world, see:
-
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew:
http://www.kew.org/
Authentication
Authenticated (2/7/03) by Dr. John Dransfield. Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
Glossary
- Dioecious
- Male and female flowers are borne on separate plants.
- Leaflets
- The individual 'leaf-like' parts of a compound leaf.
References
-
IUCN Red List (February, 2013)
http://www.redlist.org - Dransfield, J. and Beentje, H. (1995) The Palms of Madagascar. Royal Botanic Gardens Kew, London.
- Dransfield, J. (July, 2003) Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Pers. comm.
- Dr Henk Beentje (09/2002) Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew. Pers. comm.
-
Plant a Palm (September, 2002)
http://www.plantapalm.com/vpe/photos/Species/ravenea_musicalis.htm
More »Related species
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Image credit
Ravenea musicalis
© Henk Beentje / Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew
Richmond
Surrey
TW9 3AB
United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 208 332 5000
Fax: +44 (0) 208 332 5197
info@kew.org
http://www.rbgkew.org.uk
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